Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum BACKBONED ANIMALS (CHORDATA)
Class REPTILES (REPTILIA)
Order LIZARDS AND SNAKES (SQUAMATA)
Family SNAKES - COBRAS AND CORAL (ELAPIDAE)
SubFamily SNAKES - COBRAS AND CORALS - AFRICAN (ELAPIDAE - AFRICA)
Common name: MAMBA - BLACK
Scentific name: DENDROASPIS POLYLEPIS POLYLEPIS

DORSAL

Species Info:

This lifeform is found widely in Africa.

Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is the giant snake that has  given all the Mambas a bad name. The Black Mamba is a very  aggressive snake that should be greatly respected. This species  is widely found south of the Sahara Desert in open country. Large specimens can be as long as fourteen feet. Young specimens are green and are frequently confused with the Green Mamba.

African Elapidae contain the Mambas (Genus Dendroaspis). These Mambas are among the most feared of all snakes. Some of the species in this genus reach giant sizes, climb trees, and are aggressive. Mambas frequently raise the front part of their body high before striking, and consequently hit the head and arms of humans with their deadly fangs. There are at least five distinct species of mambas. Mambas (Genus Dendroaspis) of Africa are among the most feared of all snakes.

Cobra and Coral Snake Group (Family Elapidae) is known for its deadly poisons. Some of the snakes in this group are small and  not dangerous unless handled, stepped on, or disturbed. However, their venom is very deadly and they should all be considered  potentially dangerous. There are almost 300 species in this family.

Lizards and Snakes (Squamata Order) share many common characteristics and consequently they are grouped in a single order. There are greater differences between some groups of lizards than there are between other groups of lizards and snakes. The same is true of snakes. Lizards and snakes share a common skull shape.

Reptiles (Class Reptilia) are an ancient group of scaled  chordates. These scales may be permanently joined, as in the  turtles, or flexible, as in the snakes. Reptiles are land-based. Their eggs are laid on land and the young are air breathing.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

Search Region:
World
Species Range:
Click to enlarge
Photos
(Click on an image below to display at left)

DORSAL

 


Quick Jump:
Click to jump to
CORAL MACHO
MICRURUS NIGROCINCTUS NIGROCINTUS
Backward 10 species
Click to jump to
MAMBA - JAMESON'S
DENDROASPIS JAMESONI KAIMOSAE
Backward 1 species
Click to jump to
MAMBA - WEST AFRICAN
DENDROASPIS VIRIDIS
Forward 1 species
Click to jump to
PYTHON - INDIAN
PYTHON MOLURUS
Forward 10 species